US Patent 11530001 Expandable length cargo bed system with mid-bed access

An expandable cargo bed system for a vehicle includes a front shell having a front shell first sidewall. The front shell first sidewall includes at least one cargo bed access passage extending between a first side of the front shell first sidewall and a second side of the front shell first sidewall opposite the first side. A rear shell is operably coupled to the front shell so as to be movable with respect to the front shell between a retracted position and an extended position so as to vary a length of the cargo bed. The rear shell has a rear shell first sidewall. The rear shell first sidewall is structured to cover the at least one cargo bed access passage when the rear shell is in the retracted position. The rear shell first sidewall is also structured so that the at least one cargo bed access passage is exposed when the rear shell is in the extended position.